ENTOMOLOGY. 469 



Valley ami i.s abundant on jieach and apricot trees and on prune trees which are 

 yrown on peach and plum roots. The insect does not appear to be injurious in any 

 other part of California. The moth has been collected, however, in nearly all 

 parts of the State. Brief notes are given on the members of the family Sesiid* in 

 California, including the species discussed in the bulletin of which the proper name 

 is Sanninoidea opalescens. The life history of this species is not well known. The 

 insect is active throughout the winter season and pupation does not occur until late 

 spring. The most obvious sign of the presence of the larva' in a tree is the exudation 

 of gntn. This, however, is not a certain evidence of the presence of the larvte, since 

 gum may appear on trees which do not contain the peach-tree borer, and may be 

 absent in trees which are infested with this insect. The l)urrow of the larv;e is 

 usually in a vertical direction. The moth lays a large numVjer of eggs upon the 

 trunks of the trees. During the sunmier moths are produced continually and eggs 

 and larvpe of various sizes may always be found. It appears, however, that there is 

 only 1 brood of the insect per year. 



The remedies which have been applied in Eastern States to the eastern peach-tree 

 borer have not proved economic or effective in California. By far the best results in 

 fighting the peach-tree borer were obtained from the us^e of carbon bisulphid. It 

 appears that this is the cheapest remedy, and when properly handled there is little 

 or no danger to trees. It is stated that some growers pour the li(|uid directly on the 

 bark of the trees without bad effects. The character of the soil is the most impor- 

 tant factor in determining whether or not the trees suffer injury from the insecticide. 

 If the' soil is loose and reasonably diy the fluid volatilizes rapidly and does not injure 

 the tree. It is recommended that the carbon bisulphid be poured on the ground 

 near the trunk of the tree and that the earth be thrown up around the trunk in the 

 form of a mound. As a rule about 1 oz. is sufficient for each tree. In common prac- 

 tice, however, the amount is made dependent upon the size of the tree. A small can 

 has been devised in which the proper amount may be readily measured and poured 

 upon the ground around the tree. Treatment with bisulphid of carbon has been 

 confined almost wholly to the winter season; since nuich injury is done by the Ijorers 

 during the summer it appears advisable to make 1 or more applications during the 

 summer. If but 1 application is to be made it is recommended that this be done 

 early in the winter. 



Two peach scales, H. A. Gossard {Florida >Sla. Bui. 61, pp. 4^9-498, }ih. 4)- — An 

 application of undiluted crude petroleum was given to pear, plum, and peach trees 

 on January 25. Two of the pear trees died later of blight, l:)ut the scales were appar- 

 ently killed by the crude oil. A number of plum trees of 8 different varieties which 

 were treated with the undiluted ci-ude i)etroleum died, and the number of trees which 

 died during the year following the spraying was larger than that of check rows. The 

 same application was made to 9 bearing peach trees of the Florida Gem variety. Of 

 this number only 2 or 3 ever showed any signs of life during the succeeding season, 

 and all died. Several young plum and peach trees of different varieties were sprayed 

 with from 15 to 30 per cent mechanical mixture of petroleum and water in February 

 without suffering any injury. Applications of kerosene in mechanical mixture of 

 water at the same time gave less satisfactory results than the crude oil. No injui-y 

 was done to the trees by these diluted applications. 



The parasitic fungus SpjJurrostilbe coccopltila is said to have developed so vigorously 

 in some localities as to render insecticide operations against the San Jose scale unnec- 

 essary. Notes are given from correspondence with practical orchardists who report 

 good results from the distribution of this fungus. One orchardist states that after 2 

 years' experience with crude oil he considers the San Jose scale as a very easy pest 

 to control. This orchardist used 25 per cent mechanical mixture of crude petroleum. 

 When the proper winter treatment has been given, sununer treatment is seldom 

 required. Crude iDetroleum, however, can not be used in summer nor upon evergreen 



